Switch



Patented .lune 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THEODOR'E BIRRE I\TMAIRR,v or sT. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AssIGNOR To w. N. MATTHEWS CORPORATION, or sT. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OR MISSOURI SWITCH Appiication' -ied January 21, i929. serial No. 333,841. l

ceedingly vsimple method of effecting the alignment above referred to, but at the same time permitting 'ready removal Aof the terT lminal engaging means from the switch unit.

Other [objects will be in part obvious and in partY pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements andcombinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be eXemplied in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of'which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated one of the various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a cross section showing a fuse switch viewed from the front, the view being taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail section illustrating the invention per se.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. p l

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1,*there is illustrated at numeral 1 a housing within which line terminals 3 are supported by suitable insulating means. These tery minals include spring terminal clips 5.

' f Below the bottom 7 of the boXrl and withiii apocket 9 is supported the stationary element of a hinge 13, said hinge including a hinged or swingable socket adapted to loosely receive a switch or fuse cartridge 17, the latter including suitable terminal engaging elements or knives 19. The socket is irovided with a s ur for engagement whereby the switch cartridge 17 may be manually placed in the socketl and then swung upwardly on and with the hinged socket through an opening 2 1 in the bottom of the boX 1 until the terminal engaging elements 19 engage with the lin'e terminals 3. A stop 23 is forced over the lower end of the cartridge to correctly limit the position of the cartridge so that the terminal engaging elements thereof properly strike the liiie terminals when the switch is closed. The stop 28 also holds the tubes 25 of the cartridge together.

It should be noted the cartridge 17 has the ytubes 25 thereof usually formed of insulating material such as fibre. The reason for the loose fit' of the cartridge 1-7 in the socket 15 is that the fibre has a tendency to swell or change shape under different weather conditions and it is important that it 'be not allowed to bind in the socket. i The cartridge should at all times be readily removable so that fuse replacements or the likemay readily be made. Therefore the socket is made large so that the lowerflbrous end of the` cartridge fits loosely therein, whereby it may be readily applied and removed even after weather conditions have enlarged the tubo. On the other hand it should be noted that the loose fit has resulted in relatively poor alignment between the terminal engaging elcments and the line terminals, so that in driving the cartridge into engagement, some degrec of care was required to be exercised or there was danger of missing the line terminals with the terminal yengaging elements.

In order to eliminate the above diiiiculty, I provide a lug 27 extending upwardly from the hinged socket portion 15. I also provide a recess 29 in the stop 23 to engage with said lug 27. The lugand the stoplare coinposed of metal so that the recess and` lug may be given a. close or snug lit. The result of this construction is that the loose tit between the lower end of the cartridge and Jthe socket may be retained, but when the car-y tridge is applied to the socket, engagement between the metallic lug and the lrecess 29 maintains the cartridge in substantial alignment for throwing itiiito engagement with the line terminals. At the same time there is nodanger of binding of the cartridge in the socket 15 or at the recess 29 and it is rendered readily removable.

A further safeguard is' eii'ected by providing horns 31 en thef' station element of the hinge 13. When -the is closed, the horns 31 are' ositioned just the SOP 23. S0'thet'- .cartridge iS fsoitiveiy ,new in ,pensieri-iwan tti-wing out the fusil 33 there. The nfns'" also' guide the cartridge into engaging positief as it is thrown thereto.

It is to be understood; that tilembweeonstruction is a plicable to any switchxtgr with or witho'irt' afuse lin In view of the abete, it Millie ee that 'the several objects of the* tiei'itio' achieved and other advantagediis' rcsltQ attair'ied.- As many' changes could be" in carryfling iutthe abovel del from tlieseop'e o'the i'r'iv'eti'dr, it is intended' thatla'll l'altter contained in the' aldve description er sho'nin the aece'nrpanying drawingsslrall Bef-interpreted 'as illustrative and not in a limitilitgs'ee-.A

claim: 1" 1. In a switcr,v line ternindr, arswiitdhf cartridge including? y teriinal'enggigf elel 'menten a iii e inc i a svi'g'i'alle socket, a on"V lgos'ely e aging in saidisecketgfam the eartri "limiting its' descent in o, the a lug on the socket and al iii tHe sfpf snugly engagnghtle lug" ad y ted tof more perfectly ligithe eng 'W e ments with the line terminals' their w d be? pos# sible with tire lbs ft between: the cart-A ridge and theisocket. 2. In a switch,v line' terniinls, switch cartri inclifding termini! ele-v I e' ,y ments, and a fibrous rtibiighigi lud said fibrous prtionszof thec' y engaging'in Said meterse@ et; man Step onchef earedfge, ai mami nig 'anden ated withI the scckee :gid aigus e che' .,Smgye win. e d me au @mi "sie may? try the; engaging"elemen`l 'tsl n w h'tlie Iieitcrininels than einer te' passim tats.' fleets- Hobset betwist et@ "aus fen; of t e ervrfdg'eamite matinee-ocres;

im Besserer a Iii t af in meer ngi thel Pug and 'tdapdi 'itgiy al he n; me wiltiil the loose t between the cartridge and the socket, and a set of gui horns associ ated with the hinge for furt er guidi the cartridge said horns bei ositioned a ve sipd stop when the switc 1s closed to hold t me snm ia. s; MJ viable."

*Ln/1^ at switch, liiigthftn'nls', a* switch. 1 cartridge niclulgrlig terminal engaging elev`l mantas q... y0111212111:@ only 'inge t @ming gngige i ,afnpseal me'tl, said rs lcelgelyl engaging 1n said metal socket, a metal 'c-stop on the cartridge, a" metal lug January,

y gfmgnnon'n nlruminantiER;1*y

associntetxith-the socket and a recess 1n t possible with the* til) 

